Hijra (gender)

Hijra is a legally acknowledged third gender in India. The community was revered in Hindu religious texts as tritiya-prakriti, but they were criminalized during the British Raj. They were ostracized in daily life under British rule, forcing many of them onto the streets, where many of them worked as prostitutes. Hijras often live in small communities, as they were persecuted under Section 377 of the Indian penal code, which outlawed gay sex in the country. Many hijra were forced into begging or prostitution (being solicited by men), and some of them go through castration to remove the remnants of their male boody parts. In April 2014, the Indian Supreme Court recognized the hijra, transgender, eunuchs, and intersex people as a "third gender", and Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh also recognized a third gender. However, many people still oppose the hijras due to religious or cultural concerns. In 2015, Madhu Kinnar was elected Mayor of Aigarh, making her the first hijra to be elected as a mayor. The community went from being beggars and entertainers to taking on a more common role in society, including serving as mayors.